Musings on what I enjoy about quilting, birds, dogs and life.

Where Eagles Soar!

My sister, Colleen Davisson, is the director of SOAR Tutoring, a program of Eagle Sports Club in Detroit, Michigan. According to their web site this program “…offers low-cost, individualized one-on-one reading tutoring to struggling students on Detroit’s east side.” I don’t live in Detroit, but if I did and I had the time, I think I would like to volunteer for this program. Teaching kids to read is a great way to help them prepare for the future.

SOAR Tutoring

The sports club and tutoring program get their name from a passage in scripture, Isaiah 40:31 that reads in part, “…They will soar on wings like eagles…” Those of you that know me are aware that I am not a religious person, but I do believe that anyone’s life can be made richer by helping others and I love the imagery of that passage. I am sure this tutoring program helps everyone involved SOAR like an Eagle!

Enough of the public service message…now for the real reason I am writing this post.

Twice this past week, on our way home from work, my husband, Charlie and I were treated to one of the most spectacular things anyone can ever be witness to. A Bald Eagle Soaring over Irondequoit Bay! Well, I don’t really mean that the most spectacular part is that the eagle was soaring over Irondequoit Bay, but that there actually are Bald Eagles soaring over Irondequoit Bay at all! I never thought I would be able to see a Bald Eagle in Monroe County, NY. I always figured I would have to travel to Alaska to see one in the wild. Thanks to the hard work of many people the Bald Eagle is making a dramatic come back in the lower 48 states.

Aerial View of Irondequoit Bay

The only bad thing about this experience is that it occurred, both times, while driving over the Irondequoit Bay Bridge during evening rush hour! It really is a challenge for me to stay in whatever lane I happen to be in and keep my eye on the eagle for as long as I can without crashing into anyone! I have to keep looking at it since I only have a few seconds to view this magnificent creature as we travel along at 55+ mph. I think it would be safer to be texting while driving instead of watching an eagle soar over your car. I took a screen shot from a traffic web cam of the bridge (this shot faces west, I travel on the far side heading towards the camera at the end of the day) and pasted a photo I found of an eagle to illustrate how dangerous this can be for bird watchers. In either direction there are 3 lanes and no shoulders so there is no where to pull off and enjoy the show!

Bald Eagle over Irondequoit Bay Bridge (illustration...not real!)

The eagles are usually flying south towards their nesting area as we are heading east toward home. Yes, you read that right. Bald Eagles have been nesting along the shore of Irondequoit Bay for a few years now. Their nest was first spotted in 2006 and I believe they have been back every year since. At least we have seen an eagle fly over the bridge every year since then as well. I did read a report on one of the birding forums recently that the adults were “chasing the juveniles out of the area” so I believe they have had a successful brood this year.

Because they are a protected species it is illegal to get too close to a Bald Eagle or their nest so Charlie and I haven’t tried to find them. We would have to find a vantage point anywhere on the Bay and wait for the chance to see the eagle fly by. We probably wouldn’t get to see it for any longer than when driving over the bridge so for now I will cherish every moment that comes up on our way home from work, and hope I never get in a wreck while staring up at the sky.

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